Submitting a project idea
Project concept submissions close 21 August 2026.
Project concepts are formally considered for funding twice a year, as a part of Natural Hazards Research Australia’s ongoing research strategy.
The Centre welcomes submissions of project ideas for potential inclusion in our research program. Ideas can be for short, medium or long-term projects that can be effectively used.
Any new research accepted will contribute to the Centre's ongoing research portfolio and will be guided by its rolling Biennial Research Plan.
Who can submit
The Centre’s end-user driven approach means investment in research problems that are led and informed by our Participants.
Research concepts must be submitted by representatives of one of the Centre’s Participants. These are organisations or entities that have been contracted through a Participant Agreement with the Centre.
The Centre encourages submitting Participants to build collaborations with other organisations across multiple states and territories to demonstrate the national significance of the concept.
Concepts that cover areas related to First Nations peoples, cultures and Knowledges must demonstrate partnership and endorsement from relevant First Nations representatives, organisations and/or community members.
Non-Participants
For organisations not currently covered by a Participant Agreement, please contact the Centre about our commissioned research program, or about how to become a Participant, via email at research@naturalhazards.com.au.
Research providers
Please note that the Centre does not accept project concepts led by research organisations. The Centre will issue expressions of interest for successful project concepts and commission research providers to deliver research projects in accordance with its policies.
Submissions
Submissions that fail to meet one, or partially meet any, of the mandatory criteria may be excluded from consideration by the Centre.
The Centre may in its absolute discretion seek further information or contact key stakeholders of a concept during the prioritisation process.
Mandatory submission criteria for concept submission
The mandatory criteria are:
- Applicant must be a Centre Participant organisation.
- Submissions must be made using the Centre’s January 2026 or later concept submission form, also available at the top-right corner of this page.
- A Chief Executive, Commissioner or senior delegate of the submitting Participant organisation must endorse the concept and confirm their organisation’s intention to utilise research arising from the project by signing this concept form. If the January 2026 form is used, an updated email confirmation from the Chief Executive, Commissioner or senior delegate is required as concept endorsement.
Making a concept submission
Ideas for research project are initially submitted to the Centre as a short project concept in the available concept submission form. Once a project concept is approved for funding, the Centre will work collaboratively with the submitting stakeholders to develop a more detailed project brief.
For consideration, all project concept submissions must use the current concept submission form or previous January 2026 form, and be emailed to research@naturalhazards.com.au by the end date indicated in the Key dates section below.
All mandatory criteria must be satisfied.
Key dates
The Centre considers project concepts for funding twice a year as part of the Centre’s biannual research investment round.
Key dates for this submission round:
| 29 June 2026 | Submissions open |
| 7 August 2026, 5:00pm (AEST) | Final date to seek Centre feedback on draft concepts |
| 21 August 2026, 5:00pm (AEST) | Submissions close |
| November 2026 | Submitting organisations notified of outcome |
The Centre reserves the right to make changes to these dates as processes evolve.
A further concept submission round will take place in the fourth quarter of 2026, opening in December 2026.
Online briefing
An online stakeholder briefing covering the submission process, assessment prioritisation and high-priority research areas and frequently asked questions will be held in July 2026.
Prioritising projects
Project concepts will be prioritised for inclusion in the Centre’s research program based on the extent the concept addresses the following research criteria:
- identifies a clear critical research need, or gap in knowledge and/or practice (20%)
- supports the directions outlined in the Centre’s Biennial Research Plan 2026-28 (20%)
- fits within the Centre’s overall research program, can be managed within the Centre’s resources and provides value across the Centre’s Participants (20%)
- is likely to result in utilised outputs that enhance safety, resilience or sustainability of communities in the context of natural hazards (20%)
- has relevance to multiple jurisdictions and/or sectors (20%).
Concepts should include either or both of the following:
a) named supporting stakeholders; and/or
b) letters of support from additional organisations outlining a commitment to research translation and implementation.
High priority research areas (June 2026)
For this current concept submission round the following areas are identified as high priority research areas (see more information in the Biennial Research Plan 2026-28):
- Understanding and mitigating risk of flood, earthquake, heatwave, coastal inundation, tsunami, cyclone and severe storm (inclusive of associated hazards)
- Social equity, including vulnerabilities that impede people and communities to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural hazards
- Environmental solutions including an understanding of how we can improve environmental resilience and the efficacy of environmental solutions to reduce natural hazard risk
- Land use planning and urban design, including building materials, as critical future natural hazard risk reduction activities
- Resilient recovery
- First Nations Knowledges
- Technology demonstration.
Project concepts that align with these high priority research areas are especially encouraged. However, all project concepts will be considered regardless of whether they address a high-priority research area.
Concept submissions may include projects to support research dissemination and engagement including knowledge mobilisation and methodological evolution of previous Centre research (refer to the Biennial Research Plan 2026-28 for more information).
Prioritisation process
Project concepts are developed and then prioritised in a three-step process:
Step 1: Concept development - Submitting Participants are encouraged to consult with their relevant Node Research Manager for the development of their project concept.
Please note, if draft concept feedback is required, please contact the relevant Node Research Manager prior to the date and time listed in the key dates section of this page.
Step 2: Prioritisation - The Centre assesses concepts against the prioritisation criteria, allocates an indicative funding amount per concept, and prepares a recommendation for the Research and Implementation Committee.
Step 3: Approval - Project concepts recommended for funding will be presented to the Centre’s Research and Implementation Committee for endorsement prior to seeking Board approval for funding.
Confidentiality and intellectual property
Once concepts are approved for funding and proceed to the project development stage, the Centre will select a research provider to deliver the research project through an independent assessment process.
The appointment of a research provider will be at the Centre’s sole discretion considering the assessment requirements and legal and/or policy obligations the Centre may have.
The Centre may use and share information provided in the concept submission with third parties (potential research providers/advisors and subject matter experts). Submitting organisations must carefully consider any confidentiality obligations and/or intellectual property ownership or interests or access and use of third-party databases in the concept submission and consent to the Centre’s use of this information.
Contact
For more information or assistance with developing a project concept, please contact research@naturalhazards.com.au or the Node Research Manager for your state or territory.